JSK players disappointed after loss to Sudan

2008-08-18

Algeria's JS Kabylie conceded a 3-1 defeat on Saturday to Sudan's El Merrikh in the CAF Confederation Cup.

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 18/08/08

[Getty Images] JSK's Tayeb Berramla was sent off the field on Saturday after kicking a Sudanese defender. The Algerian claims he was provoked.

Algerian powerhouse JS Kabylie (JSK) suffered a loss to Sudan's El Merrikh on Saturday (August 16th) in a CAF Confederation Cup match in Khartoum. The Sudanese team got off to a strong start, surprising the Kabyles with a goal in the opening minutes.

El Merrikh then dominated the pitch until scoring a second time in the 17th minute. A beleaguered JSK narrowed the gap with a goal 10 minutes before halftime and looked as if they might turn the tables on their opponents in the second half, but an unexpected red card for star midfielder Tayeb Berramla sealed their fate.

A ten-strong JSK once again floundered, eventually letting in a third goal which dashed the Algerians' hopes of coming away from the Sudanese capital with a draw. The three points awarded to El Merrikh make the Sudanese squad the favourites to win the group. Speaking to journalists after the match, JSK manager Mohamed Ifticen accused the referee of bias.

"I've seen some bad refereeing during my career, but nothing like what I saw today," he said.

"When we were down 2-0 he denied us a crucial penalty that could have changed the complexion of the game. But the team weren't totally blameless, because letting in a goal isn't the best way of starting a match. The early goal and the penalty that was denied us were unsettling. We managed to come back but Berramla's foul cost us dearly. With ten men there was no way we were going to make a comeback, especially since we had major problems at the back with several defenders missing," Ifticen commented.

Berramla, who was sent off after kicking a Sudanese defender, claimed to have been provoked.

"I don’t know what came over me today. Even before the kick-off I was feeling on edge. The two goals we let in early on wound me up. That doesn’t justify what I did, but you have to realise that the other player provoked me first, right in front of the referee who turned a blind eye. So I got what I deserved and I regret that," he said.

JSK striker Oussalah said that his team’s chances of qualifying are still intact despite the defeat. "I know we could have done better, but we still have time to catch up because of the way the pool system works, we still have another five matches ahead of us." He also criticised the referee, whose behaviour he said "had a direct bearing on the outcome".

El Merrikh manager Michael Krüger noted that JSK's defence had been vulnerable.

"We were able to take advantage of the weakness of JSK’s defenders to score two goals early on in the match, but I'm not completely satisfied. We could have scored more than one goal in the second half if my players hadn’t tried to work independently of one another rather than as a team," Krüger said.

"At the end of the day, it's always good to start the knock-out phase with a win," he continued. "That'll boost our confidence going into our next matches."

JSK will now face Tunisia’s ES Sahel on Day 2 of the tournament.